Nonraveling edge, reinforcing rib or joint structure for knitted metallic mesh fabrics and method of producing same



Dec. 4, 1945. O H K 2,390,200 NONRAVELING EDGE, REENFORCING RIB OR JOINT STRUCTURE FOR KNITTED METALLIC MESH FABRICS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed Aug. 17, 1944 2 Sheets$heet l I N V EN TOR. 0m J 1 5117,

Adar/1g Dec. 4, 1945. O YORK 2,390,200 NONRAVELING EDGE, REENFORCING RIB OR JOINT STRUCTURE FOR KNITTED METALLIC MESH FABRICS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME 1 Filed Aug. 1'7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -3 i.-.\ i i g i F- 12 INVENTOR.

Amway;

Patented Dec. 4, 1945 NONRAVELING EDGE, REINFORCING RIB OR JOINT STRUCTURE FOR KNITTED METAL- LIC MESH FABRICS AND METHOD OF PRO- DUCING SAME Otto H. York, Maplewood, N. J assignor to Metal Textile Corporation, West Orange, N. J.,.a corporation oI Delaware Application August 17, 1944, Serial No. 549,844

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knitted metallic mesh fabrics; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to novel non-raveling edge portion, reinforcing rib, joint or like structures for such fabrics, and to a novel method of producing the same.

Knitted metallic mesh fabrics are most economically produced in tubular form on circular knitting machines for the reason that the cylindrical heads of such machines provide relatively simple and high speed mechanism which will produce, substantially automatically, continuous lengths of knitted fabric, and in operation require but a minimum amount of attention by operators. The output of tubular knit fabric produced by circular knittingmachines is generally flattened and then used as a double thickness'or two-ply material. There are, however, many uses for knitted metallic mesh fabric wherein a single thickness or one-ply material is more desirable than is such double thickness or two-ply material. Tubular knit metallic mesh fabric may be slit longitudinally through one thickness thereof, and then opened out to provide a single thickness or one-ply material. However, the single thickness or one-ply material thus obtained, due to the cut and unsecured ends of the metallic strands at the freed edges thereof, involves certain disadvantages; viz., that the fabric possesses but low resistance to transverse tearing action; is prone to ravel at such edges; and the presence of loose sharp wire ends at such edges increases hazards of snagging and scratching.

Having the above conditions in view, it is one object of this invention to provide free edges of knitted metallic mesh fabric and especially of slit tubular knit metallic mesh fabric with a novel non-raveling edge structure which obviates the objections above referred to; and to provide a novel method of producing such nonraveling edge structure.

Another object of this invention, within the scope thereof as hereinafter disclosed, is to provide knitted metallic mesh fabric with a reinforcing rib structure similar in form to the hereinabove mentioned non-raveling edge structure, and which is produced by substantially the same novel method; and, furthermore, by substantially similar structure and method, to provide means for joining together a plurality of initially separate knitted metallic mesh fabric sections edge to edge, either side by side or in superposed relation, which sections may be of the same or of respectively diiferent loop size, or of the same or of respectively different metallic material.

Other'objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following'detailed description of the same.

For a better understanding ofthis invention reference may-now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric prior to slitting the same to open it out into a single thickness or one-ply material; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the slit tubular knit metallic mesh fabric opened out into a single thickness or one-ply material; Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing raw slit marginal edge portions rolled inwardly upon themselves preparatory to forming a non-raveling edge structure therefrom according to this invention; Fig. 4 is an edge view, schematically shown, of the material conditioned as in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the rolled marginal edge portions as compacted to form the non-raveling edge structure according to this invention.

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a die for compacting the rolled marginal edge portions of the material into the non-raveling edge or similar structure, the material being shown in progress through said die; Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view through the die taken on line 1-1 in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a similar cross-sectional view of a somewhat modified form of die.

Fig. 9 is a face view of a roller means optionally usable for compacting the rolled marginal edge portions of the material into the non-raveling edge or similar structure, the material being shown in progress therethrough.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric having a differentially knitted section from which, when slit, modified marginal portions are provided adapted to be rolled and compacted to produce the nonraveling edge structure.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view (schematically shown) of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric subject to processing according to this invention to produce reinforcing rib structures along the same. 7

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary edge view (schematically shown) of initially separate knit metallic mesh fabric sections superposed with marginal edge portions rolled preliminary to compacting the same to form a joint structure to unite said sections edge to edge; and Fig. 13 is an edge view of the same after the rolled edge portions are compacted to form a joint structure as provided tojoin the opened out sections in edge to edge extended relation.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

To convert a selected length of tubular knit metallic mesh fabric 20 into a single thickness or one-ply mesh body or sheet, and then to form raw marginal edge portions thereof into a nonstrong, tear resisting and non-raveling edge structure, the marginal portions of the body or sheet 2|, contiguous to said out edges 22, are rolled inwardly upon themselves to form rolled sections comprising a plurality of convolutions (see Figs. 2 and 3), at least two or three such convolutions being desirable.

After the rolled sections 23 are formed, they are passed through suitable means for tightly compacting the same, whereby to strongly interentangle and interlock together knit loops of contiguous convolutions, thus forming a dense integrate mass of substantial cross-sectional area, which is strongly resistant to disintegration, thereby providing a permanent and relatively smooth surfaced non-raveling structure 24 edging the body or sheet 2| (see Fig. and within the interior of which all loose sharp wire ends are imbedded and confined.

One means for compacting the rolled sections 23, whereby to produce the non-raveling structure 24, may comprise a suitable die block 25 having a passage 28 through which the rolled section 23 may be progressively moved or drawn. Said passage 26 is provided at its receiving end with a mouth portion 21 having a cross-sectional area at least equal to and preferably somewhat exceeding the cross-sectional area of the rolled section 23. Said die passage 26 tapers from the mouth portion 21 toward a discharge section 28, the cross-sectional area of the latter being at least equal to and preferably slightly less than the cross-sectional area of the non-raveling structure 24 to be produced. The die block 25 is provided with a narrow outwardly open slot or pass-way 29 to permit movement through the die block of those portions of the body or sheet 2| adjacent to th rolled section 23 so as to advance with the latter as it moves through the die passage 26. This slot or pass-way 29 may be aligned with the diameter or central axis of the passage 23 (as shown in Fig. 7), or it may be aligned tangentially to said passage (as shown in Fig. 8); the latter arrangement being utilized if it is desired to dispose the non-raveling structure 24 in offset relation to a face plane of the body or sheet 2|, rather than in diametric alignment with the body or sheet 2|. Whil the die passage 26 has been shown as of circular crosssectional shape, it will be obvious that the same may be made of any other suitable cross-sectional shape, according to the specific crosssectional shape which is desired to be given to the produced non-raveling structure. It will also b understood that suitably spaced and opposed die mean may b employed so that non-ravel-' ing structures 24 may be simultaneously produced along opposite edges of a mesh fabric body or sheet 2|.

Another means for compacting rolled sections 23, whereby to produce the non-raveling structure 24, may optionally comprise opposed peripherally grooved rolls through which a rolled section 23 is moved and by which the latter is compressed into the desired non-raveling structure. Preferably, although not necessarily, such roll type means comprises a series of compacting rolls (see Fig. 9) provided by a suitable number of pairs of opposed rolls, as e. g. rolls 30, ti and 32; each pair of rolls having peripheral ooves or channels 33 of desired cross-sectional shape, the grooves or channels of successive pairs of rolls being of diminished cross-sectional area, whereby. as a rolled section 23 moves on from one pair of rolls to another, step by step compacting action is exercised upon said rolled section 23, so as to ultimately produce the dense integrate non-raveling structure 24.

Still another method of compacting a rolled section 23 whereby to produce the non-raveling structure 24, may comprise subjecting the rolled section 23 to pressure between relatively movable dies of suitable shape, or through the agency of any other suitable means subjecting said rolled section 23 to compressive integrating pressure.

A tubular knit metallic mesh fabric can be machine knitted in such manner as to produce therein a. longitudinally extending section or panel of desired width comprising more closely knitted or narrower loops as compared with more openly knitted or wider loopsof the major portion of the tubular fabric. A tubular knit fabric of this character is shown in Fig. 10,

' wherein the major portion 34 thereof comprises comparatively openly knitted or wider loops, whil a longitudinal panel or section 35 thereof comprises relatively closely knitted or narrow loops. When a tubular knit fabric of this kind is slitlongitudinally and medially through the denser panel or section 35, as along the line 11-11 in Fig. 10, and then opened out into a one-ply body or sheet, the latter will possess, along its cut edges, marginal sections of the more densely knitted material. Such relatively dense marginal portions, when rolled back upon themselves into the preliminary rolled sections 23 and thereafter compressed into the compacted integrate non-raveling structure 24, produce a much stronger non-raveling formation than would be possible to attain by similar processing of marginal portions of the more openly knitted body of th fabric.

While I have described the novel non-raveling structure as applied to single thickness or oneply knitted metallic mesh fabric, and especially when the fabric is produced from slitted and opened out tubular knit mesh, it will be obvious that where the novel non-raveling structure is desired to be applied to a multi-ply fabric, it may be done by the method above described, whereby superposed marginal edge (portions of a multiply body or sheet would be preliminarily formed into the initially rolled section, and then such section subjected to compression whereby to compact the same into the described novel non-raveling structure.

It will also be understood that transverse cut marginal edge portions, as well as longitudinal cut marginal edge portions, of knitted metallic mesh fabric may be processed in the manner described to form .the same into the novel non-raveling structure. In this connection, it may also be noted, that an open end of a flattened tubular knit metallic mesh body may be also processed in the manner described to form therefrom the novel non-raveling structure, which, in such case, also serves to close such open end of the tubular body.

The described method of producing compacted rolled sections of a knitted metallic mesh fabric for purposes other than a free non-raveling edge formation also falls within the scope of my invention. For example, it may be desired to provide such fabric body, whether of flat or sheet form or of tubular form, with reinforcing riblike formations extending therethrou-gh. This is shown in Fig. 11, wherein the method of manipulation is illustrated in part, and comprises first longitudinally folding a portion of the body to provide a, flattened section 36 extending outwardly therefrom, and thereupon rolling said section 36 inwardly upon itself to form the preliminarily rolled or convolute section 31, and thereafter subjecting the latter to compression, whereby to compact the same to interentangle and interlock the knit loops of the convolutions thereof into a dense integrate mass to provide the desired reinforcing rib structure.

Another use for the novel compacted and integrated rolled or convolute structure is to form and utilize the same as a joint structure for uniting two or more sheets or bodies of knitted metallic mesh fabric edge to edge, which sheets or bodies may be of the same or different loop size, or of the same or different metals, or at least one of metal joined to one of non-metallic material. This is shown in Figs. 12 and 13, wherein sheets or bodies 38 and 39 are first superposed, whereafter superposed marginal edge portions thereof are rolled inwardly upon themselves to form the preliminary rolled or convolute section 40 (see Fig. 12), the latter being thereafter subjected to compression so as to compact the same to interentangle and interlock the knit loops of the convolutions thereof into a. dense integrate mass to form the desired joint structure 4!. Thereafter, when the sheets or bodies 38 and 39 are separated and opened out into a common plane, said joint structure 4| strongly unites the same edge to edge (see Fig. 13).

From the above description it will be understood that the instant invention provides a novel compacted and integrated rolled or convolute structure in connection with knitted metallic mesh fabric well adapted to serve variously as a strong tear-resisting and non-raveling edge structure, reinforcing rib structure, joint structure or the like, as may in any given case be desired.

Having now described the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim:

1. A compacted and integrated structure for knitted metallic mesh fabrics comprising portions of the fabric body rolled into a convolute formation. said formation being compacted whereby knit loops of its contiguous convolutions are interentangled and interlocked to form a relatively dense, integrate and self-maintained structure forming mass.

2. A compacted and integrated structure for knitted metallic mesh fabrics comprising portions of the fabric body rolled into a convolute formation, said formation being compressed laterally whereby knit loops of its contiguous convolutions are interentangled and interlocked to form a comparativelyv smooth surfaced consolidated, integrate and self-maintained structure forming mass.

3. Knitted metallic mesh fabric having portions thereof rolled into a convolute formation, said formation being compacted whereby knit loops of its contiguous convolutions are interentangled and interlocked to form a relatively dense, integrate and self-maintained non-raveling edge, reinforcing rib, joint -or like structure unitary with said fabric.

4. Knitted metallic mesh fabric having portions thereof rolled into a convolute formation,

said formation being compressed laterally whereby knit loops of its contiguous convolutions are interentangled and interlocked to form a comparatively smooth surfaced consolidated, integrate, and self-maintained non-raveling edge, reinforcing rib, joint or like structure unitary with said'fabric.

5. The combination with a knit metallic mesh fabric provided by a longitudinally slit tubular knit fabric body of anon-raveling edge structure therefor comprising cut marginal edge portions of the body rolled into a convolute formation. said formation being compacted whereby knit loops of its contiguous convolutions are interentangled and interlocked to form a relatively dense, integrate and self-maintained edge structure mass.

6. The combination with a knit metallic mesh fabric provided by a longitudinally slit tubular knit fabric body of a non-raveling edge structure therefor comprising cut marginal edge portions of the body rolled into a convolute formation, said formation being compressed laterally whereby knit loops of its contiguous convolutions are interentangled and interlocked to form a comparatively smooth surfaced consolidated, integrate and self-maintained edge structure mass.

7. The combination with a knit metalli mesh fabric provided by a tubular knit fabric body slit medially through a longitudinally extending section thereof comprising more closely knitted or narrower loops as compared with more openly knitted or wider loops of the remainder of said body, whereby to provide said fabric bodywith relatively densely knitted cut edge marginal portions, said marginal portions being rolled into convolute formations, and said formations being compressed laterally whereby knit loops of contiguous convolutions thereof are interentangled and interlocked to form consolidated, integrate and self-maintained edge structures at and unitary with margins of the fabric.

8. A method of providing knitted metallic mesh fabrics with a compacted and integrated structure, comprising first rolling fabric body portions into convolute formation, and then subjecting said formation to laterally applied pressure whereby to compress the-same and thereby interentangle and interlock knit loops of contiguous convolutions thereof to reduce the formation to a consolidated, integrate and self-maintained structure forming mass.

9. A method of providing knitted metallic mesh fabrics with a tear-resisting and non-raveling edge portion, comprising first rolling free edge marginal portions of the fabric body into convolute formation, and then subjecting said formation to laterally applied pressure whereby to compress the same and thereby interentangle and interlock knit loops of contiguous convolutions thereof to reduce the formation to a consolidated, integrate and self-maintained edge forming mass.

10. A method of producing non-ravelingedged one-ply knitted metallic mesh fabric from a tubular knit fabric body, comprising first slitting the tubularknit fabric body longitudinally and opening out the same into extended Plane, then rolling back upon itself a cut edge marginal portion of the extended fabric body to produce therefrom a convolute formation. and then sub- Jecting said formation to laterally applied pressure whereby to compress the same and thereby interentangle and interlockknit loops of contiguous convolutions thereof to reduce the formation to a consolidated, integrate and se1f-maintained edge forming mass.

11. A method of producing non-raveling edged one-ply knitted metallic mesh fabric from a tubular knit fabric body provided with a longitudinally extending section composed of more closely knitted or narrower loops as compared with more openly knitted or wider loops of the remainder of said body, comprising first longitudinally slitting the tubular knit fabric body medially through the densely knitted section thereof and opening out the body into extended plane, whereby said body is provided with relatively densely knitted cut edge marginal portions,

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